Claim profile
1500–1599

The 16th century

Whose working lives fell in the 16th century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 16th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇪🇸 Spain🇫🇷 France🇯🇵 Japan🇩🇪 Germany🇮🇹 Italy🇹🇷 Turkey🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇮🇳 India
FieldAllHistorical FiguresWritersPoliticiansArtistsAcademicsReligious FiguresMusiciansScientistsModelsActors
  1. 1ParacelsusParacelsus1493–1541 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors22 decades
  2. 2Huldrych ZwingliHuldrych Zwingli1484–1531 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics9 decades
  3. 3Carlo MadernoCarlo Maderno1556–1629 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architects22 decades
  4. 4Conrad GessnerConrad Gessner1516–1565 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors1 decades
  5. 5Heinrich BullingerHeinrich Bullinger1504–1575 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers22 decades
  6. 6Fausto SozziniFausto Sozzini1539–1604 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors10 decades
  7. 7Jost BürgiJost Bürgi1552–1632 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0 decades
  8. 8Gaspard BauhinGaspard Bauhin1560–1624 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists21 decades
  9. 9Ambrosius HolbeinAmbrosius Holbein1494–1519 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists13 decades
  10. 10Felix ManzFelix Manz1498–1527 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland0 decades
  11. 11Thomas ErastusThomas Erastus1524–1583 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors0 decades
  12. 12Conrad GrebelConrad Grebel1498–1526 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors7 decades
  13. 13Heinrich GlareanHeinrich Glarean1488–1563 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers5 decades
  14. 14Urs Graf seniorUrs Graf senior1485–1528 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  15. 15Aegidius TschudiAegidius Tschudi1505–1572 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0 decades
  16. 16Joachim VadianJoachim Vadian1484–1551 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors19 decades
  17. 17Niklaus ManuelNiklaus Manuel1484–1530 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers18 decades
  18. 18Matthäus SchinerMatthäus Schiner1465–1522 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians0 decades
  19. 19Pierre ViretPierre Viret1511–1571 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors22 decades
  20. 20Felix PlatterFelix Platter1536–1614 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors19 decades
  21. 21Johann BauhinJohann Bauhin1541–1612 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientists0 decades
  22. 22Joseph Heintz the ElderJoseph Heintz the Elder1564–1609 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists0 decades
  23. 23Cristoforo SolariCristoforo Solari1468–1524 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists21 decades
  24. 24Gerhard DornGerhard Dorn1530–1584 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0 decades
  25. 25GBGeorge Blaurock1492–1529 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland0 decades
  26. 26Theodor ZwingerTheodor Zwinger1533–1588 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctors0 decades
  27. 27Hans AsperHans Asper1499–1571 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists0 decades
  28. 28Johannes OporinusJohannes Oporinus1507–1568 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0 decades
  29. 29Jeanne of HochbergJeanne of Hochbergdied 1543 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politiciansnot measured—
  30. 30Giovanni Ambrogio FiginoGiovanni Ambrogio Figino1553–1608 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists0 decades
  31. 31Theodore BiblianderTheodore Bibliander1500–1564 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors1 decades
  32. 32Leo JudLeo Jud1482–1542 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors0 decades
  33. 33Tobias StimmerTobias Stimmer1539–1584 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists19 decades
  34. 34Christoph FroschauerChristoph Froschauer1490–1564 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland15 decades
  35. 35Thomas Platter the ElderThomas Platter the Elder1499–1582 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  36. 36Kaspar von SilenenKaspar von Silenen1467–1517 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland0 decades
  37. 37Bonifacius AmerbachBonifacius Amerbach1495–1562 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Musicians18 decades
  38. 38Johann StumpfJohann Stumpf1500–1577 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers0 decades
  39. 39JNJakob Nufer1500–1600 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland0 decades
  40. 40Konrad PellikanKonrad Pellikan1478–1556 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors0 decades
  41. 41Johann Jakob WickJohann Jakob Wick1522–1588 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors3 decades
  42. 42CDConrad Dasypodius1531–1600 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics0 decades
  43. 43KRKaspar Röist1478–1527 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  44. 44Ludwig LavaterLudwig Lavater1527–1586 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actors0 decades
  45. 45Giovanni Battista di QuadroGiovanni Battista di Quadro1510–1590 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architectsnot measured—
  46. 46Josias SimmlerJosias Simmler1530–1576 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers14 decades
  47. 47Hans FriesHans Fries1465–1520 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artists0 decades
  48. 48Ludwig PfyfferLudwig Pfyffer1524–1594 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politicians0 decades
  49. 49JAJohannes Aal1500–1551 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Musicians1 decades
  50. 50MCMarie Colinet1560–1640 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctorsnot measured—
  51. 51Matteo CastelliMatteo Castelli1560–1632 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  52. 52Hieronymus FrobenHieronymus Froben1501–1563 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland8 decades
  53. 53Johannes Jacob WeckerJohannes Jacob Wecker1528–1586 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Scientistsnot measured—
  54. 54Heinrich PetriHeinrich Petri1508–1579 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  55. 55Basilius AmerbachBasilius Amerbach1533–1591 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writers13 decades
  56. 56Jakob Meyer zum HasenJakob Meyer zum Hasen1482–1531 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Politiciansnot measured—
  57. 57Anna ReinhartAnna Reinhart1484–1538 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  58. 58Hans GiengHans Gieng1500–1562 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  59. 59CWChristian Wurstisen1544–1588 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academics8 decades
  60. 60Rudolf GwaltherRudolf Gwalther1519–1586 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  61. 61Benedictus AretiusBenedictus Aretius1522–1574 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actorsnot measured—
  62. 62Ambrosius FrobeniusAmbrosius Frobenius1537–1602 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  63. 63Ludwig HaetzerLudwig Haetzer1500–1529 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actorsnot measured—
  64. 64Hans Leu the YoungerHans Leu the Younger1490–1531 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  65. 65Taddeo CarloneTaddeo Carlone1543–1615 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  66. 66Hieronymus SchurffHieronymus Schurff1481–1554 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Academicsnot measured—
  67. 67DCDurich Chiampell1510–1582 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  68. 68GGGiovan Giacomo Paleari Fratino1520–1586 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  69. 69Jos MurerJos Murer1530–1580 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  70. 70Petrus DasypodiusPetrus Dasypodius1495–1559 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  71. 71Valerius AnshelmValerius Anshelm1475–1547 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  72. 72JTJachiam Tütschett Bifrun1506–1572 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  73. 73Klaus HottingerKlaus Hottinger1500–1524 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  74. 74Josua MaalerJosua Maaler1529–1599 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Actorsnot measured—
  75. 75Hans Rudolf ManuelHans Rudolf Manuel1525–1571 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Artistsnot measured—
  76. 76FSFridolin Sicher1490–1546 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Musiciansnot measured—
  77. 77SLSimon Lemnius1511–1550 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—
  78. 78FWFelix Wirtz the Elder1510–1585 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Doctorsnot measured—
  79. 79BMBaldassare Maggi1550–1619 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Architectsnot measured—
  80. 80Andreas CratanderAndreas Cratander1490–1540 · 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnot measured—
  81. 81PGPamphilus Gengenbach1480–1525 · 🇨🇭 Switzerland · Writersnot measured—

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.